How I was robbed, raped – 14-yr-old girl

Emotions ran high yesterday in Lagos, following a 14-year-old girl’s startling account of how she was robbed and raped in Oko Oba area of Agege, last Sunday, by an unidentified man.

The Osun State-born victim said she left her home town for Badagry, to assist a relative who had just been delivered of a baby.

However, on arriving in Lagos, it was late and she reportedly decided to pass the night at Agege.

She said: “As I was sleeping in front of a shopping complex, a man came and started rough handling me. He tied his belt round my neck and used his shirt to cover my face and mouth.

“After raping me, he collected my transport fare and my phone. He later came back and beat me when I shouted for help. He had his way thrice, saying if I attempt to escape, other boys elsewhere would have me in turn.

“I passed out the fourth time, only to open my eyes and found some people around me.”

It was gathered that sympathisers gave her water to wash her blood-stained body before contacting policemen at Elere Division, who referred her to Orile-Agege General Hospital for treatment.

When contacted, the Deputy spokesman for Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Damasus Ozoani said no arrest had been made but assured that the culprit would soon be brought to book.

“Investigation is ongoing, while the teenager is responding to treatment at the Orile-Agege General Hospital,” Ozoani said.

Lagosians spend N36bn on Owambe annually —Fashola

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, weekend, said more than N36 billion was spent annually by Lagos residents in organizing different social events.

This came as the governor said the solution to the unemployment crisis in the country did not require any foreign idea, saying “the answer is a Made in Nigeria strategy.”

The governor spoke at the fourth edition of the Lagos Ignite Enterprise and Employability project, a joint youth empowerment programme between the government and the Afterschool Graduate Development Centre, AGDC.
The event attracted hundreds of youths, ex-Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, Ali Baba among other dignitaries.

Fashola explained that the figure was collated after a careful study of social events especially party life in Lagos.

According to him, “this was the study of night life carried out by the government in five local governments including Agege, Mushin, Ifako-Ijaiye and Ikeja and another local government. It showed that more than N36 billion was spent on 1555 parties held within the period.

“We did a study between October and November last year, we took just five local governments in Lagos; Agege, Mushin, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja and another one.

“We studied from Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, three days every week for four weeks which was 12 nights.

“In 12 nights, 1555 parties were held in these local governments. In terms of drinks, food and all other engagements during such parties, about N1.2 billion was spent and when we dis-aggregated them we saw how much went to DJ, MC, food and drinks, the total picture in the state now and I don’t want to give you a wrong number but it’s something in the region of about N3 billion monthly on that side of our life and people are playing and impacting on that side of our economy.

The governor noted that clothing materials worn during such parties popularly called “Aso-ebi” gulped at least N1.2 billion monthly, saying the market is huge with much yet to be tapped from it.”

Why I Prefer Stealing From Churches - Robbery Suspect

Anti-robbery policemen attached to Oko-Oba division have arrested a 32-year-old man who allegedly specialised in bugling churches around Oko-Oba area of Lagos.

The suspect identified as Sannu Umaru was reportedly caught in the act inside one of the Pentecostal churches in Oko-Oba, weekend.

Umaru who claimed to be son of a retired army personnel, told policemen during interrogation that he preferred stealing from churches because of the security lapses.

Preliminary investigation, according to police sources, revealed that Umaru was allegedly involved in some robbery incidents in churches around the area. Before his arrest, he allegedly bugled a church where he made away with some musical instruments.

According to Police sources, "on that fateful night, he scaled the fence of the church and went to where the musical instruments were. As he was about carrying the piano valued close to half a million naira, one of the instruments fell down and attracted the night guards who went for him.

"He jumped through the fence with one of the instruments he stole. But he was apprehended by residents of the area who were alerted by the the guards and was brought to the station. He was found to have also burgled another church within the week."

In his confessional statement, Umaru blamed his indulgence on frustration, saying: "I was tempted to steal because of the death of my father. After his death, I went into scavenging but did not succeed. I chose to bugle churches because it is easier than any other place.

"Aside this, I do not need to be armed. I was scared of carrying arms and did not want to spill blood. That is why I considered stealing in churches as a gentleman's way.

"What I do is, anytime I go there, I would search the offering boxes. At times I would find money inside, while at other times I would not.

"At Saint Barnabas Church, I did not find any money inside the offering box. So, I decided to steal their music instrument."

Police sources said Umaru had been charged to court.

Information from Vanguard newspaper was used in this report.